Po, from Kung Fu Panda, teaches kids martial arts moves during the new Dragon Warrior Training Show at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Now through Sunday, Feb. 25, theme park guests can enjoy the festivities, which include martial arts lessons by Master Po and Tigress from the DreamWorks film franchise, “Kung Fu Panda.” The plaza, located in the heart of the upper lot, has been completely transformed and is decked out with thousands of traditional red Chinese lanterns and there are a handful of plum blossom wishing trees, from which guests can write down and hang up their wishes and hopes for the Lunar New Year.

“Our wishing tree activities have been very popular,” Sabrina Chen, assistant manager of marketing strategy at Universal Studios Hollywood, said during a media tour on Monday, Feb. 12. “We have it every year and it’s important at Lunar New Year for you to leave your New Year’s resolutions or greetings and wishes for your family.”

“We see a variety of different wishes and a lot of Asian tourists leaving wishes in their language – Chinese Japanese or Korean – for their family and friends overseas. It’s nice to see that.”

Francisco Cunay holds his daughter, Kimberly Cunay, 2, as they pose for a picture with Tigress and Po from Kung Fu Panda at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The studio is celebrating Lunar New Year with new shows, characters and food. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Po, from Kung Fu Panda, teaches kids martial arts moves during the new Dragon Warrior Training Show at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Megatron, from Transformers, greets visitors to Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration as he speaks Mandarin and poses for pictures inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The studio is celebrating Lunar New Year with new shows, characters and food. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Visitors to Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration pose with an automatronic duck named Mr. Ping at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Secret ingredient stir fry noodles with beef is one of the new food items during Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Oogway chicken egg roll with sweet chili sauce is one of the new food items during Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist Jeff Carpenter teachers visitors how to draw Viper from Kung Fo Panda during a drawing class at Universal Plaza during Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Danielle Cohn, left, and Sebastian Topete try their hand at drawing as artist Jeff Carpenter teachers visitors how to draw Viper from Kung Fo Panda during a drawing class at Universal Plaza during Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Brody Peterson, 10, visits with a Minion dress for the Lunar New Year during Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Artist Jeff Carpenter teachers visitors how to draw Viper from Kung Fo Panda during a drawing class at Universal Plaza during Universal Studio’s Lunar New Year celebration in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A young visitor practices his moves with Po from Kung Fu Panda as he teaches kids martial arts during the new Dragon Warrior Training Show at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A family visiting from Beijing, China takes a selfie under red Chinese lanterns in during a Lunar New Year celebration inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Erin San Miguel, center, joins other guests and Po from Kung Fu Panda as he teaches kids martial arts during the new Dragon Warrior Training Show at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

New Lunar New Year shirts are available at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Wish written by visitors hang on a Plum Blossom Wishing Tree during the Lunar New Year celebration at Universal Plaza inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Colorful Chinese lanterns hang in Universal Plaza during a Lunar New Year celebration inside Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City on Monday, Feb 12, 2018. The show is part of the studio’s Lunar New Year celebration. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Lunar New Year celebration is included in theme park admission and features a slew of interactive activities for kids of all ages. From the martial arts demonstrations in the Dragon Warrior Training Show and meet and greets with Po and Tigress to art lessons with veteran DreamWorks animators and the chance to interact with an animatronic Mr. Ping in the replica of Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop from the “Kung Fu Panda” films.

Minions from the “Despicable Me” films are also donning traditional Chinese clothing and, with the help of their guides, teaching guests how to say “Hello” and “Goodbye” in Chinese. Megatron from “Transfromers” is also greeting fans just outside of the plaza and the 12-foot-tall Decepticon is engaging with guests in Mandarin, having real-time conversations with those that can handle his characteristic snarky commentary.

There’s also the opportunity to learn about each of the 12 zodiac animal signs and their specific attributes via a series of brightly colored banners that circle the plaza. Straight from “Kung Fu Panda,” fans can experience the culinary cuisine of Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop as he serves up his Secret Ingredient Stir Fry Noodles (with beef, chicken, pork or shrimp; $9.99-$10.49), crispy Oogway Egg Rolls with chicken and sweet chili sauce ($4.99), Po’s Pot Stickers with pork and served with spicy soy sauce ($7.99) and the Dragon Warrior Bao BBQ Pork Buns served with soy sauce ($7.99).

Earlier this month, Universal Studios Hollywood revealed that Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest will debut within the all-new DreamWorks Theatre by summer 2018. The cutting-edge, multi-sensory experience will include a plot-filled story based on the morning of The Emperor’s Great Feast of Heroes. Po the Panda will embark on an intense, action-filled mission to deliver the rare and precious liquid of limitless power to the palace for the occasion.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Where: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City

When: Open daily; Hours vary by date

Tickets: $105-$116 single-day general admission; $179-$259 Universal Express; $329 and up for the VIP Experience; $129-$159 two-day general admission at 866-258-6546 or UniversalStudiosHollywood.com

Kelli Skye Fadroski lives for entertainment. She’s worked at The Orange County Register since 2006 and has covered all things music, stand-up comedy, horror and more. When she’s not out reviewing a concert or interviewing some random famous person, she’s catching up on episodes of “The Walking Dead,” somewhere sampling craft beer, enjoying Taco Tuesday or yelling at the contestants through the TV on “Celebrity Name Game” for not knowing basic pop culture trivia. She’s also a diehard Detroit Lions fan.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.